In the beginning of January in association FOR YOU in Varna , Bulgaria, received a call from the social worker in the National Agency for Refugees. The call was concerning a man willing to return voluntarily back to his home in Rostov-on-Don in Russia.
In July 2009 B. M. enters the territory of Bulgaria. He comes with short term visa, which allows him to enter twice the country and to reside up to 30 days in Bulgaria during the period July 2010- October 2010. Later , in September, he travels to Romania and returns the same day in terms to be able to stay another 30 days after his return ( Aliens can reside 30 days in Bulgaria without leaving its territory, if they leave the country and return they can reside another 30 days. This is a normal practice. ) After his visa expires, B. decides to stay in Bulgaria. Somebody advises him, that to be able to stay he can apply to the Bulgarian state for receiving a humanitarian status. As a humanitarian status applicant, B. is allowed to accommodation in the dormitory of the National Agency for refugees in Sofia , food and 65 leva (€ 33) monthly support . So he applies and is accommodated as described. After two months of waiting for decision on his application, Boris decides to return back voluntarily.
In the beginning of January , the social worker in the national Agency for refugees called us and told us that a man from Russia want to return back. She said also that the man had a meeting with one of the psychologists from the organization “Assistance center for torture survivor ”, which is responsible for regular psychological interviews in the Agency for refugees and the Home for temporary accommodation of foreigners in Busmantsi . The conclusion of the psychologists was that B. has schizophrenia, but no written statement on this diagnose was issued. Furthermore, the social worker said that, because B. ended his procedure for acquiring a humanitarian status he cannot receive the state support anymore and he shall leave the dormitory.
Within few days we managed to meet him and prepare all needed documents for the return – fulfilled questioner, copies of B’s passport , birth certificate as well as a document, confirming his voluntary refusal of humanitarian status procedure. With AWO we started immediately to organize the return – buying tickets and searching for partner organization in Rostov-on-Don , which could take care of B. It was very difficult to organize the travel of B.. There was no partner organization at place which was willing to take care of him and we were not able to find his relatives on the phone numbers B. gave us. Hopefully another organization in Rusia granted us its support – Association of migrant organization in Stavropol region “Solidarnosty”; as well as Olga Chrkez from Common mission in Odessa , Ukraine.
We bought bus ticket for B. to come to Varna, and from Varna he would continue his travel to Rostov-on-Don by plane. B. had any money, even the social worker gave him 1 lev to pick up the bus to the bus station in Sofia.
B.M. in Rostov-on-Don
B. M. arrived very early on 21.01.2011 in Varna .We picked him up from the bus station and we brought him to our office. After breakfast and coffee we talked about him and his situation. He did not say why he came to Bulgaria, but it was clear that he find himself with any money at the end of his stay. He even has sold his cell phone because 65 leva per month were not enough for his everyday needs.
B. has been married and has a son, but he does not keep in contact with his wife , neither with his son and (as he said) cannot remember their phone numbers . He gave us new phone numbers of his relatives (two aunts) but still nobody was answering when we called there. He told us that earlier he has been living in Moscow but he does not want to return there but in Rostov where he has home, heritage from his grandfather. B. has had a new car (he has bought it brand new in 2009), which is captured in the police in Yaroslavl, Russia. We also found out that he has no ID card/passport since long time , and his only personal document is his international passport. During our conversation we also came to the conclusion that may be B. had some psychological issues (our colleague Yordanka Gencheva is also a psychologist)
During the 8 hours that B.M. spent in Varna , we also took a look at his business idea and we fulfilled a formulary about it. He had the idea to start a Bistro back in Rostov , where he can serve to the clients self made food and refreshing drinks.
After that we brought him to the airport and wished him Good luck.
B. returned successfully in Rostov and contacted Mr. Tselovalnikov , from “Solidarnosty” , Stavropol, in terms to confirm him that he arrived successfully . B. said that he is living in a hotel, regardless he said he has a home .
Some weeks after his return , B. met another partner of us in Rostov-on-Don , who provide him with € 250 initial aid, assessed his personal and social situation, as well as his business plan .
According to the last information we received from our partner from Rostov and Mr. Tselovalnikov, B. M. is on a therapy in psychiatry in Moscow.
Association 'FOR YOU'
